View source for Deathstalker (2025 film)


{{Infobox film
| name           = Deathstalker
| image          = Deathstalker poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Steven Kostanski]]
| producer       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Pasha Patriki]]
* Michael Paszt
* [[Avi Federgreen]]
}}
| writer         = Steven Kostanski
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Daniel Bernhardt]]
* [[Patton Oswalt]]
* Christina Orjalo
* Paul Lazenby
* [[Nina Bergman]]
}}
| music          = [[Blitz//Berlin]]
| cinematography = Andrew Appelle
| editing        = Robert Hyland
| studio         = {{Plainlist|
* Hangar 18 Media
* Berserkergang Films
}}
| distributor    = {{Plainlist|
* Raven Banner Entertainment (Canada)
* [[Shout! Studios]] (United States)
}}
| released       = {{Film date|2025|08|15|[[78th Locarno Film Festival|Locarno]]|2025|10|10|United States}}
| runtime        = 103 minutes<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 12, 2025 |title=''DEATHSTALKER'' |url=https://www.consumerprotectionbc.ca/motion-picture-ratings/classification-details/?cpbc_id=612643 |access-date=September 13, 2025 |website=[[British Columbia Film Classification Office]] |language=en-CA}}</ref>
| country        = {{Plainlist|
* Canada
* United States
}}
| language       = English
| budget         = 
| gross          = 
}}
'''''Deathstalker''''' is a 2025 [[sword and sorcery film]] written and directed by [[Steven Kostanski]]. It is a remake of the [[Deathstalker (1983 film)|1983 film of the same name]]. It stars [[Daniel Bernhardt]] as the titular character, alongside [[Patton Oswalt]], Christina Orjalo, Paul Lazenby, and [[Nina Bergman]]. [[Peter Kuplowsky]] is one of the executive producers.

The film premiered at the [[78th Locarno Film Festival]] on August 15, 2025, and was released in the United States by [[Shout! Studios]] on October 10, 2025.

==Plot==
Deathstalker, a former knight, picks through the dead and dying on a battlefield. He steals jewellery and a golden amulet from a dying man. At a nearby village, while Deathstalker is eating in a tavern, a two-headed troll attacks him in search of the amulet. Deathstalker kills the troll, and having decided the amulet is more trouble than it is worth, throws it into a river. However, the amulet reappears in his pocket. After several attempts to get rid of the amulet fails, Deathstalker visits the witch Toralva.

While unable to read the language on the amulet, Toralva tells Deathalker it is bound to him until he dies, and that he must search for a wizard who can understand the writing on the amulet. Toralva further warns him that a great evil is rising, but Deathstalker does not believe her.

Following Toralva's directions, Deathstalker enters a cave system in search of the wizard. He is attacked by man eating serpents, but manages to escape with a chest in which Doodad, the wizard, has been imprisoned. Releasing Doodad, he recruits him to help. Doodad is unable to read the amulet either, but agrees to help him raid the crypt of a dead wizard for a scroll that will help him translate it.

On the way there, Deathstalker and Doodad learn that an ancient necromancer, Necromemnon, has returned and is after the amulet. They are attacked by evil dreadites, who serve Necromemnon, and their commander is revealed to be Deathstalker's old friend Jotak, whom he thought had died. Deathstalker cuts off Jotak's arm and flees.

However, when they reach the crypt they discover Necronemnon's minions have beaten them to it. While sneaking in disguised as dead bodies, they encounter the thief Brisbayne, who teams up with them. After escaping with the scroll they need, they make camp in the Moaning Woods.

After being attacked by a stone titan and then a blade wielding mummy, Deathstalker is injured, and they are forced to stop to rest. Doodad is able to break the amulet's bond to Deathstalker during the night, and reads to them a prophecy from the amulet, which describes a magical sword that can defeat Necronemnon.

While asleep, Deathstalker and Doodad are betrayed by Brisbayne and taken prisoner by the thief queen, Grendul, who intends to sell the amulet back to the prince. While interrogating them, Grendul accidentally awakens swamp monsters, who attack her people. Doodad is able to befriend the swamp monsters with music, allowing Deathstalker to escape.

Deathstalker takes Grendul's place at the meeting with Prince Baldur and agrees to sell him the amulet. After Baldur double crosses him, the Dreadites attack, slaying the prince's knights. While fleeing, Jotak ambushes Deathstalker, his arm now replaced with a monstrous one. Brisbayne returns to help, but Jotak prevails, and kills both Deathstalker and the prince, taking the amulet.

The swamp monsters heal Deathstalker, and he attacks Necronemnon's fortress to rescue his friends. After freeing Doodad, the two duel Necronemnon and Jotak. A rock fall, caused by Doodad, injures Necronemnon, but not before Brisbayne is transformed into a vessel of the demon Citor.

At the last moment Deathstalker is able to retrieve the prophesied sword, and with it, he destroys Citor and resurrects Brisbayne, finally defeating the Dreadites. Afterwards, Deathstalker decides to destroy the prophesied sword, believing it too powerful to be wielded by man, but Doodad struggles to achieve this with his bad aim.

==Cast==
* [[Daniel Bernhardt]] as Deathstalker
* Laurie Field as Doodad
* [[Patton Oswalt]] as Doodad (voice)
* Christina Orjalo as Brisbayne
* Paul Lazenby as Jotak
* [[Nina Bergman]] as Grendel

==Production==
In March 2024, it was revealed that a remake of ''[[Deathstalker (1983 film)|Deathstalker]]'' was in development, with [[Steven Kostanski]] writing and directing the film. [[Daniel Bernhardt]] was cast as the titular character, and [[Slash (musician)|Slash]] serving as an executive producer.<ref name="DS">{{cite web|url=https://www.screendaily.com/news/daniel-bernhardt-to-star-in-reboot-of-roger-cormans-deathstalker-films-exclusive/5191164.article|title=Daniel Bernhardt to star in reboot of Roger Corman's 'Deathstalker' films (exclusive)|date=March 2, 2024|first=Jeremy|last=Kay|website=[[Screen Daily]]|access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2024/film/global/roger-corman-deathstalker-reboot-slash-first-look-cannes-1236008573/|title=Roger Corman Reboot 'Deathstalker,' Exec Produced by Guns N' Roses' Slash, Unveils First Look, Raven Banner Launches Sales at Cannes (EXCLUSIVE)|date=May 18, 2024|first=Naman|last=Ramachandran|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=May 18, 2024}}</ref> In the subsequent months, it was revealed that Christina Orjalo, Paul Lazenby, and [[Nina Bergman]] joined the cast.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ninabergman.com/news/first-look-at-nina-bergman-in-deathstalker|title=First look at Nina Bergman In 'Deathstalker'|date=October 10, 2024|website=ninabergman.com|access-date=February 27, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=famousbouncers |postid=DCyW15wur07 |title=That is a WRAP for "Jotak" on @kill_kostanski's #Deathstalker!!! Absolutely grueling 13 hour day to close things out, but so much goddamn fun all the way through. THANK YOU to the cast and crew, you guys rock, and special thanks to my brother @therealdanielbernhardt for opening the door for me to land this role in the first place. |date=November 25, 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |user=christinaorjalo |postid=DDSi34cSNwN |title=Still in awe of the kick-ass team that brought Deathstalker to life over these past few months, and can't wait for folks to meet Brisbayne and the gang. Adventure awaits!🪈🔮⚔️ |date=December 7, 2024}}</ref>

===Filming===
[[Principal photography]] began in late April 2024, in [[Greater Sudbury]], [[Canada]],<ref name="DS" /> and [[wrap (filmmaking)|wrapped]] on October 12.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.movievine.com/movies/first-look-at-nina-bergman-in-steven-kostanskis-deathstalker-fantasy-film-starring-daniel-bernhardt/|title=First look at Nina Bergman In Steven Kostanski's 'Deathstalker' Fantasy Film Starring Daniel Bernhardt|date=October 12, 2024|first=Wendy|last=Shepherd|website=Movie Vine|access-date=February 27, 2025}}</ref>

==Music==
[[Blitz//Berlin]] composed the score, while [[Slash (musician)|Slash]], [[Bear McCreary]], and Chuck Cirino composed the theme song for the film.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.joblo.com/deathstalker-theme-song/|title=Slash, Bear McCreary, and Chuck Cirino teamed up for the Deathstalker remake theme song|date=October 10, 2024|first=Cody|last=Hamman|website=[[JoBlo.com]]|access-date=February 27, 2025}}</ref> Co-star Nina Bergman co-wrote and performed the film's end credit song "Walking Alone"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0X4yD5NLq4&t=187s&pp=0gcJCU0KAYcqIYzv|title=Nina Bergman: The WorldFilmGeek Interview|date=November 13, 2025}}</ref>

==Release==
''Deathstalker'' premiered at the [[78th Locarno Film Festival]] on August 15, 2025, and was released in the United States by [[Shout! Studios]] on October 10, 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hopewell |first=John |date=July 31, 2025 |title=Shout! Studios Acquires English-Language Territories to Steven Kostanski's 'Deathstalker,' a Reboot of Roger Corman's Cult Favorite (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2025/film/global/shout-studios-steven-kostanski-deathstalker-roger-corman-1236475216/ |access-date=July 31, 2025 |website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Blevins |first=Adam |date=August 7, 2025 |title=A 'John Wick' Veteran Braces for a Fight in New 'Deathstalker' Image [Exclusive] |url=https://collider.com/deathstalker-image-daniel-bernhardt/ |access-date=August 9, 2025 |website=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]}}</ref>

==Reception==
{{Rotten Tomatoes prose|86||29}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/deathstalker_2025|title=Deathstalker|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|access-date=November 13, 2025}}</ref>

SAF Movie Reviews gave it a score of 74 out of 100, calling it a charming, self-aware and trashy film that hits all the right spots.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb title|tt33996087}}

{{Deathstalker}}

[[Category:2025 fantasy films]]
[[Category:Deathstalker (film series)]]
[[Category:2025 American films]]
[[Category:2025 Canadian films]]
[[Category:2025 English-language films]]
[[Category:2020s fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:American fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:American sword and sorcery films]]
[[Category:Canadian fantasy adventure films]]
[[Category:Canadian sword and sorcery films]]
[[Category:English-language Argentine films]]
[[Category:Films about rape]]
[[Category:Films about witchcraft]]
[[Category:Films about wizards]]
[[Category:Films scored by Blitz//Berlin]]
[[Category:Films set in castles]]
[[Category:Films shot in Greater Sudbury]]
[[Category:Remakes of American films]]
[[Category:English-language science fantasy films]]
[[Category:English-language fantasy adventure films]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Deathstalker (2025 film)|access_date=2026-03-02}}